Cigarette perforating device



Feb. 1, 1966 B. E. TOMLINSON 3,232,298

CIGARETTE PERFORATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1963 BARNARD E. TOM Ll NSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,232,298 CIGARETTE PERFORATING DEVICE Barnard E. Tomlinson, Walla Walla, Wash, assignor of one-fourth to Vernon L. Bosley, Walla Walla, Wasl1.,

and one-fourth to Lawrence McBride, Milton-Freewater, Greg.

Filed Oct. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 316,946 6 Claims. (Cl. 131-170) The present application is a con'tinuation'in-part of my co-pend-ing United States application Serial Number 267,245, filed March 22, 1963.

The present invention relates to a cigarette perforating device for selectively piercing the paper jacket of a cigarette between the combustion region at the tip and the butt end, to make possible a cooler and milder smoke in a manner which is adjustable at will. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-manipulated device for forming a perforated ring about the periphery of individual cigarettes with novel means being provided for adjusting the depth and size of the perforations.

The primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a cigarette perforating device of the type described which is easy to use, compact and simple in construction to enable economical manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette perforating device which permits the individual to form a continuous ring of spaced perforations about the entire periphery of a cigarette in a single operation without damaging the remainder of the paper jacket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette perforating device of the character described wherein a dial on the device may be adjusted to vary the size and depth of the perforations.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be understood from the following descriptions and claims, the invention consisting in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2 with the dowel removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cigarette which has been pierced by the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the perforation adjustment dial of the device.

Before describing the structural details of the present evice, reference is made to FIG. 6 of the drawings, which illustrates the use of my device. FIG. 6 shows by way of example a conventional fiilter-type cigarette .1 in which the paper tube or jacket 2, containing the tobacco, is bonded at its butt end portion around a cylindrical filter 3. By the device of the present invention, the jacket 2 may be fitted with one or more circumferential rows, or partial rows if desired, of perforations 4 which are regularly spaced around the tobaccocontaining portion of the tube adjacent the filter. As before mentioned, the purpose of these perforations is to permit the smoker to blend fresh air with the smoke while inhaling. The present invention, presently to be described, not only forms these perforations but is adjustable so as to selectively vary the depth and size of the perforations 4.

Referring now to the structure of the perforating device, which is shown in the remaining figures, with like reference numerals indicating identical parts in the various views; the device comprises a housing indicated gen- 3,232,298 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 orally at 5 which includes a front section 6 and removable back plate 7. As illustrated in the drawings, the top half of the housing is semi-circular in shape with an arcuate vertical gap 8 being provided between the mating sections 6 and 7 around the periphery of the semi-circular top portion of the device. According to the present invention, the perforating is accomplished by sectorial die plate 9 having a row of evenly spaced tapered teeth 10 projecting radially therefrom. The die plate 9 is journaled in the housing 5 on a dowel 11 which may be made integral with the back plate 7 and which projects into a suitable hole 12 in the front section 6 and serves also to hold the front and rear sections of the housing together. The dowel 11 and the hole 12 will be so constructed that the dowel has a relatively tight, snug fit so that the parts may be merely pressured together, with the friction of the dowel in the hole providing the necessary holding force. -When the two parts of the housing are in place as illustrated in FIG. 2, the gap 8 is of sufiicient width to allow the sector die plate 9 to oscillate about the dowel 11, with .an arm 13 on the die plate extending to the outer periphery of the housing to allow a suitable cross-arm =or knob 14 to be grasped with the fingers. Turning of the die plate is accomplished by grasping the knob 14 and moving it about the top portion of the housing from one side to the other as illustrated by the dotted line portion of FIG. 1.

The front section 6 of the housing includes a circular opening or through-passage 15 which extends completely through the body of the front section and has a portion 16 which extends rearwardly a slight distance beyond the body of the section. The back plate 7 includes an opening 17, of identical diameter as the through-passage 15, which is so positioned to precisely align with the through-passage 15 when the two sections of the housing are in place. In addition, the back plate 7 is provided with an enlarged diameter counter bore or opening 18 in the front face thereof as seen in FIG. 4, which is concentric with the opening 17 and of the same diameter as the outside diameter of the extended portion 16. The extended portion 16 is received in the opening 13 to thereby prevent rotation of the back plate about the axis of the dowel 11 when the two parts of the housing are engaged. With this arrangement, the bore formed by the through-passage 15 and the opening 17 extends completely through the body of the housing and is intersected by the gap 8 as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will also be noted that the sector die plate 9 intersects the bore through the housing as it rotates about the axis of the dowel 11 within the gap 8.

To complete the structure of the front section of the housing, a large diameter circular recess 19 is formed in the front face of the section 6 and is concentric with the circular opening 15, with the diameter of the recess 19 being greater than the overall width of the section 6 for a purpose presently to be described. An arcuate guide slot 20 is formed in the front face of the section 6 and is located beneath the opening 15 and concentric therewith as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5.

For the purpose of supporting the tubular body of a cigarette which is in the housing, a cylindrical plug 21 is provided which is received by the openings 15 and 17 in the housing members. The details of the cylindrical plug 21 are illustrated clearly in FIG. 7 and include an extended tubular portion 22 and a circular dial face 23. The outside diameter of the tubular portion 22 of the plug 21 is slightly less than the diameter of the openings 15 and 17 and the outside diameter of the circular dial face 23 is slightly less than the diameter of the recess 19 to enable the entire plug 21 to be rotated within the housing. With the plug member 21 inserted face 23 is rotated.

in the housing, the tubular portion 22 extends to a position flush with the backside of the back plate 7 and the peripheral edge of the dial face 23 sets in the recess 19 provided in the front face of the section 6. This relationship is illustrated in FIG. 3 and it will be noted that the peripheral edge of the dial face 23 is roughened or scalloped so that the plug 21 may be rotated within its mounting by grasping the scalloped edge of the dial face which protrudes a slight distance beyond the side of the front section 6 of the housing. To limit the rotation of the dial face, a pin 24 is provided on the back face of the dial 23 and engages the arcuate slot 20 in the housing when the plug member is in position within the housing.

The plug member 21 is also provided with a throughbore 25 extending completely through the body thereof and which is slightly eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 22. The diameter of the through-bore 25 is slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarette so that a cigarette may be easily passed through the bore. The tubular member 22 is further provided with an arcuate slot 26 which communicates with the bore 25 and which extends about the major portion of the periphery of the tube 22. The width of the slot 26 is slightly greater than the thickness of the die plate 9 and is aligned with the gap 8 between the sections of the housing when the plug 21 is in position. The slot 26 allows the die plate 9 to pass therethrough and to contact the surface of a cigarette placed in the bore 25. The extent of the slot 26 is designed to allow passage of the die plate regardless of the position of the tubular member 22 within the turning radius allowed by the pin and slot connection between the dial face 23 and the front section 6. As aforementioned,

the bore 25 is eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 22 and thus the position of the cigarette is varied with relation to the die plate 9 as the dial In this manner, the depth of the perforations made by the teeth 10 of the die plate may be varied by merely moving the dial to position the cigarette closer to the teeth 10. It will also be noted that, since the teeth 10 are tapered, the closer the cigarette is to the teeth, the larger the perforation will be. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the axis of the cigarette will be the farthest distance from the teeth 10 when the dial 23 is rotated clockwise to its extreme position and is closest to the teeth in the opposite extreme rotation of the dial.

To assemble the present device, the plug member 21 is first inserted into the opening in the front section 6 with the peg 24 being located within the arcuate slot 20. The sector die plate 9 is then located over the hole 12 and within the slot 26 in the plug. The back plate 7 is then merely snapped in place'with the dowel 11 passing through the sector plate and into the hole 12. The opening 18 engages the extended portion 16 of the front housing to prevent relative rotation between the housing sections.

To perforate a cigarette, first the butt end is inserted through the bore 25 with the arm 13 of the sector plate being in the right-hand extreme position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The base of the housing 5 is gripped in one hand and the knob 14 is turned counterclockwise with the other hand. This motion causes the teeth 10 to enter the slot 26 in the tubular member 22 and successively pierce the paper jacket 2 of the cigarette. During this action, the teeth cause the cigarette to turn in the holder, similar to the action of meshing gears. A complete circumferential row of holes 4 can be made in the jacket or a partial row can be made by swinging the handle only part way around. Also, the cigarette can be advanced in the holder and a second row or partial row of perforations made. It will be noted that the end portions of the die plate 9 are free of teeth 10 so that a cigarette can be inserted or removed from the housing 5 at either end of the swing range of the die plate.

In order to vary the depth and size of the perforations, the user merely rotates the dial face 23 so as to move the axis of the cigarette a slight distance away from or toward the path of rotating teeth 10.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides novel and: useful improvements in cigarette perforators of the character described. Changes will suggest themselves and may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, where'for it is my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language admits.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cigaretteperforating device, a composite housing comprising front and rear removable sections, said housing having a semi-circular top portion with said front and rear sections being spaced apart in the area of said top portion to form a vertical slot, means to secure said sections together including a cross pin extending across said vertical slot, said housing having a circular bore extending therethrough and intersecting said vertical slot beneath said cross pin, a cylindrical plug member rotatably journaled in said circular bore, said plug including an enlarged face on one end thereof seating against said front section and an arcuate slot in the body of said plug registering with said vertical slot, the body of said plug having a bore extending therethrough and eccentric with respect to the rotatable journaling means and registering with said arcuate slot, 21 sector-shaped die plate having a plurality of tapered teeth spaced around a portion of the periphery thereof, said die plate being located within said slots and rotatably mounted on said cross pin, whereby said teeth may extend into said eccentric bore, said die plate including an operating arm extending a slight distance beyond the surface of the semi-circular top portion of said housing, whereby a cigarette placed in said eccentric bore may be perforated by rotating said operating arm about said housing and the axis of the cigarette may be adjusted relative to the path of said teeth upon. rotation of said enlarged face.

2. The device according to claim 1, including a pin and slot connection between said enlarged face and said front section for limiting the rotational movement of said plug to maintain said arcuate slot in register with said vertical slot.

3.In a cigarette perforating device, a housing having a first bore therethrough, said housing having a first slot therein intersecting said first bore, a cylindrical plug member rotatably journaled in said first bore, said plug including a circular dial face and a second slot in the body thereof registering with said slot, said plug having a second bore extending therethrough, said second bore being eccentric with respect to said plug and in register with said first and second slots, a sector die plate having a plurality of teeth, and means to rotatably mount said die plate Within said first and second slots with the teeth projecting into said second bore, whereby a cigarette placed in said second bore may be perforated by rotating said die plate and the axis of said cigarette may be adjusted relative to the path of said teeth upon rotation of said dial face.

4. The device according to claim 3, including means carried by said dial face and said housing for limiting the rotational movement of said plug and to maintain said slots in register.

5. A cigarette perforating device comprising: a housing, a circular cylindrical plug, means to rotatably mount said plug in said housing, said plug having a bore therethrough and eccentric to the rotatable mounting means, a toothed die plate, and means to rotatably mount said die plate on a fixed pivot in said housing providing the teeth thereof with a path intersecting said here, whereby a cigarette placed in said bore may be perforated by rotating said die plate and the axis of said cigarette may be adjusted relative to the path of said teeth upon rotation of said plug.

6. In a cigarette perforating device, a housing having a rotatable plug mounted thereon, said plug having a cigarette receiving bore eccentric With respect thereto and means providing a lateral opening intersecting said 10 bore for teeth, a die with a row of teeth, and means for moving said die about a fixed axis relative to the housing to successively project said teeth through said lateral opening into said bore to pierce the jacket of a cigarette held therein, whereby said plug may be rotated to adjust the axis of the cigarette with relation to the path of said teeth.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,473,663 11/1923 Bartholome 131-190 X 3,107,674 10/1963 Smith 131-233 X SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

6. IN A CIGARETTE PERFORATING DEVICE, A HOUSING HAVING A ROTATABLE PLUG MOUNTED THEREON, SAID PLUG HAVING A CIGARETTE RECEIVING BORE ECCENTRIC WITH RESPECT THERETO AND MEANS PROVIDING A LATERAL OPENING INTERSECTING SAID BORE FOR TEETH, A DIE WITH A ROW OF TEETH, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DIE ABOUT A FIXED AXIS RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING TO SUCCESSIVELY PROJECT SAID TEETH THROUGH SAID LATERAL OPENING INTO SAID BORE TO PIERCE THE JACKET OF A CIGARETTE HELD THEREIN, WHEREBY SAID PLUG MAY BE ROTATED TO ADJUST THE AXIS OF THE CIGARETTE WITH RELATION TO THE PATH OF SAID TEETH. 